Diagnosis and treatment of iliac vein stenosis

Abstract

Stenosis of the iliac veins is common in patients with chronic venous insufficiency. The article describes the methods for the diagnosis and treatment of iliac vein stenosis. The causes of iliac vein stenosis include extravasal compression or the consequences of ileofemoral thrombosis. Stenosis of the iliac veins exists in 1/4 of the entire adult population, but clinical manifestations do not occur in all patients. Stenosis of the iliac veins should be considered in case of an unknown edema, more often in the left lower extremity, since venous duplex ultrasound of lower extremities is not sensitive and specific enough when examining the veins above the inguinal ligament. The most accurate diagnostic method is intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) but the appeared computed tomography angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) with high-quality images have become a good replacement for IVUS. The main method of treatment of iliac vein stenosis, besides stenting, isindispensable drug therapy consisting of antithrombotic and phlebotonic drugs.